It's less a matter of expertise than of collecting...everywhere I go, I'm curious about anything kitchen related (ingredients, tools, "toys"
) and pick things up to use/try SOMEtime...
The rosewater and mintwater are both middle-eastern products (Turkish, Lebanese, etc.). I knew about the rosewater years ago, necessary to one of my old time faves, Turkish Delight (yes, in the original and in the chocolate/candy bar). Find it easily in the import aisle at some of our larger grocery stores. The mintwater, just like it (literally infused water, no alcohol or glycerine or whatnot like flavours and extracts) I found in a "middle-eastern deli" store next to the rosewater; they come in a little glass bottle, looks like an old-style soda bottle. Couldn't resist, natch!
The trail actually goes back to that rose and mastic ice cream I want to try (still waiting on the mastic) which was triggered by a recipe in a foodie blog I read somewhere that I can't claim credit for. Then I had the green tea ice cream going, somehow made so much that I had to "do" it (churn it, that is :lol
in three batches, so the wanted to add a little something-something to the last 2 batches...was thinking of the rosewater, then pulled both "waters" off my shelf and said, hmmmm, why not (sniffing them first, of course).
So it's way more accidental fun than expertise!
(and the Honey Vanilla Chai is 2 Celestial Seasonings teabags soaked/infused in the custard base while it was still warm and cooling down, just left them in there, nice mild sweet 0-carb spicy flavour!)
Ta!
ps: make some nice mint tea infusions, strong, and use them in cooking; fresh mint can't be beat.